Brown v Board

 Today I am talking about how morality is related to the Brown v Board of Education decision. Rarely does the Supreme Court justices have a unanimous decision, so this shows the importance of this case since the justices all agreed that separate but equal was not only legally wrong but also, morally wrong in a country where all men are supposedly created equal.

Throughout history, people have been trying to hold others down whether from fear or wanting power. Whether this issue is due to competitive nature or something deeper, most Americans would agree with Justice Earl Warren who said, “Education was perhaps the most vital function of state and local governments, and racial segregation of any kind deprived African Americans of equal protection. and that equal educational opportunities allows all people to have better lives.” But the decision that the separate but equal ruling of Plessy v Ferguson allowed was just another barrier the blacks had to overcome. In thirteen states in 1954, it was illegal for black and white to go to the same school. These schools were not even remotely equal since their funding, equipment,  and staffing were not the same as the schools for whites only. The black students would often have to walk past a couple of white schools to get to their black-only schools. Doing so would not just feel bad temporarily it would affect them in many other ways including their confidence and self-esteem. Morality is guided by knowing the difference between right and wrong and if you were to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and realize that he is discriminated against based upon his race and that this discrimination would affect the rest of your life, this would make you start to believe that you are not deserving of anything better.. Brown v Board of Education decision shows that everyone should have the same educational opportunities and it should be on them whether or not they make the most out of it. Skin color should not decide the difference of whether or not someone may have an opportunity to be educated. This is like saying people with blue eyes must go to a separate school that does not have the same education standards while people with brown eyes get to go to schools with more opportunities.  This sounds ridiculous because it is; however, this is no different than saying that skin color puts a person in a position to be a lesser human being and will end up holding him down his entire life. Giving blacks access to equal education not only allow blacks to take a step in a positive direction in furthering their education but also, it allows all people more opportunities in life because they are better educated.

Thinking about how others might feel is important to society and is what is morally right.  We live in a multicultural world and understanding others is important.  The decision of Brown v Board of Education acknowledges the importance of equal education and opportunities for all Americans and even though racism still exists this decision was a step in the right direction.  Integrated schools improve a person’s ability to navigate the world in which he lives.